GRDN vs MCK vs CAH vs CVS vs UNH

For growth investors, Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc.

(GRDN) is the stronger pick with 17. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -1. 9% for Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH). UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) offers the better valuation at 27. 9x trailing P/E (20. 7x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. (GRDN) a "Buy" — based on 3 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

On trailing P/E, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) is the cheapest at 27.

9x versus CVS Health Corporation at 62. 8x. On forward P/E, CVS Health Corporation is actually cheaper at 12. 4x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: McKesson Corporation wins at 0. 43x versus Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. 's 1. 53x — a PEG below 1. 0 traditionally signals the market is underpricing earnings growth.

Over the past 5 years, McKesson Corporation (MCK) delivered a total return of +286.

9%, compared to -2. 6% for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: MCK returned +339. 0% versus CVS's +6. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the lower-risk stock at -0.

02β versus Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. 's 1. 01β — meaning GRDN is approximately -6259% more volatile than MCK relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. (GRDN) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 17% versus 124% for CVS Health Corporation — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc.

(GRDN) is pulling ahead at 17. 9% versus -1. 9% for Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. grew EPS 144. 1% year-over-year, compared to -62. 0% for CVS Health Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, GRDN leads at 16. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc.

(GRDN) is the more profitable company, earning 3. 4% net margin versus 0. 4% for CVS Health Corporation — meaning it keeps 3. 4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: GRDN leads at 6. 1% versus 1. 0% for CAH. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — GRDN leads at 19. 5%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.

By this metric, McKesson Corporation (MCK) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 0. 43x versus Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. 's 1. 53x. A PEG below 1. 0 is traditionally considered the threshold for growth-adjusted undervaluation. On forward earnings alone, CVS Health Corporation (CVS) trades at 12. 4x forward P/E versus 28. 7x for Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. — 16. 3x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for CAH: 36. 8% to $253. 38.

In this comparison, CVS (3.

1% yield), UNH (2. 4% yield), CAH (1. 1% yield), MCK (0. 4% yield) pay a dividend. GRDN does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Cardinal Health, Inc.

(CAH) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0. 01), 1. 1% yield, +158. 8% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (CAH: +158. 8%, GRDN: +125. 6%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: GRDN is a small-cap high-growth stock; MCK is a mid-cap high-growth stock; CAH is a mid-cap quality compounder stock; CVS is a mid-cap income-oriented stock; UNH is a large-cap quality compounder stock. CAH, CVS, UNH pay a dividend while GRDN, MCK do not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.